Abstract
The increase in the world population has generated an important need for both quality and quantity agricultural products, which has led to a significant surge in the use of chemical pesticides to fight crop diseases. Consumers, however, have become very concerned in recent years over the side effects of chemical fungicides on human health and the environment. As a result, research into alternative solutions to protect crops has been imposed and attracted wide attention from researchers worldwide. Among these alternatives, biological controls through beneficial microorganisms have gained considerable importance, whilst several biological control agents (BCAs) have been screened, among them Bacillus, Pantoea, Streptomyces, Trichoderma, Clonostachys, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and certain yeasts. At present, biopesticide products have been developed and marketed either to fight leaf diseases, root diseases, or fruit storage diseases. However, no positive correlation has been observed between the number of screened BCAs and available marketed products. Therefore, this review emphasizes the development of biofungicides products from screening to marketing and the problems that hinder their development. Finally, particular attention was given to the gaps observed in this sector and factors that hamper its development, particularly in terms of efficacy and legislation procedures.
Highlights
Modern agriculture is continuously developing and evolving
Direct antagonism of potential pests through the production of biopesticides is one of the features of plant-probiotic microorganisms that contribute to plant health. Antagonistic fungi such as Trichoderma spp., as well as bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Streptomyces, account for the majority of rhizosphere microorganisms commonly used in biocontrols [27]
Millan et al [71] investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of 69 yeast strains isolated from Spanish vineyards against Alternaria alternata, Penicillium expansum, and B. cinerea, as well as soil-borne diseases V. dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum, to find a potential yeast with high biocontrol capabilities against postharvest diseases and wilt diseases
Summary
Modern agriculture is continuously developing and evolving. After the generalization of the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticide products, which allowed a considerable increase in yield in the twentieth century, the rise of biotechnologies and new cultivation techniques is underway [1]. Ongoing growth in productivity and international trade boosts the incidence of certain diseases, requiring the application of more pesticides These pesticides increase environmental pollution and build up chemical residues in the treated ecosystem [10]. Other alternatives such as genetic pathways offer interesting control methods from a practical point of view, and strengthen the risks of the emergence of resistant genes in the pathogen [11]. These measures unequivocally illustrate a major awareness of the accumulation of toxic residues in the environment and the various links within the food chain They indicate the lack of alternatives to reduce the reliance of the agricultural sector on pesticides. We discuss the progress made on the prospecting of biocontrol agents, their development, and their mechanisms of action, with a special emphasis on legislative procedures and factors affecting their application and marketing development
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